Abu Dhabi: Cricket's governing body today furthered its process of improving the much-debated decision review system by providing direct replays to a non-match umpire, a trial also experimented earlier this year.
To improve umpiring decision in international matches, the ICC introduced the Decision Review System (DRS) in 2008 on a trial basis. The system allows both teams to challenge decisions made by on-field umpires, and have them referred to the TV official.
Initially each team was allowed three unsuccessful challenges per innings in a Test which was later reduced to two. One appeal is allowed in one-day internationals. The ICC earlier this year approved that after 80 overs in a Test innings, the reviews will be reset to two per team.
Friday's independent trial, conducted during the fifth and final one-day between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, takes various camera inputs from the broadcaster which are viewed by a non-match umpire on a system that is completely independent of the TV coverage, and independent of the game.
The system was first trialled earlier this year in the Old Trafford Test in the Ashes between Australia and England.
England's Richard Kettleborough, not officiating the match, used direct pictures of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka match which allowed him to use various angles and judge in a better way as compared to the existing system in which replays are provided by the broadcasters.
The new system, called Officiating Review System, is in line with the ICC Board's decisions to improve the DRS system to make faster and more accurate decisions. The ICC had maintained that the trial was always planned for the Old Trafford Test and had nothing to do with the criticism of the DRS during the Ashes.
The ORS will also be trialled during the Pakistan-Sri Lanka first Test in Abu Dhabi, starting from December 31 before a final decision on its implementation is taken.
